Chris, There is a lot of scientific info out there mostly at university sites and places like that. Like I said I am not a scientist and most of it is beyond my grasp but what I have read is that cocci in poultry is from the protozoa parasite, or parasitic protozoa, eimeria. They are developing vaccines, and have developed vaccines and there are studies being done about the birds own genetic immunity to cocci. If it was just a parasite they would not be able to vaccinate against it.
This is from Merks Vet Manual but there is a lot of info out there about poultry cocci.
Coccidiosis is caused by protozoa of the phylum Apicomplexa, family Eimeriidae. In poultry, most species belong to the genus Eimeria and infect various sites in the intestine. The infectious process is rapid (4-7 days) and is characterized by parasite replication in host cells with extensive damage to the intestinal mucosa.
This is from Anita Haug, National Vet Institute, Norway: http://www-miljo.slu.se/PhD_proj_Anita_Haug.pdf
Coccidiosis is essentially a disease of livestock that are reared intensively. It is caused by the invasion and replication within the intestine by microscopic one-celled protozoan parasites. A mild coccidiosis infection, kept under control, is not very harmful, and is actually necessary for creating immunity in the flock. A severe attack of coccidiosis can cause weight losses, morbidity and mortality.
Penny
This is from Merks Vet Manual but there is a lot of info out there about poultry cocci.
Coccidiosis is caused by protozoa of the phylum Apicomplexa, family Eimeriidae. In poultry, most species belong to the genus Eimeria and infect various sites in the intestine. The infectious process is rapid (4-7 days) and is characterized by parasite replication in host cells with extensive damage to the intestinal mucosa.
This is from Anita Haug, National Vet Institute, Norway: http://www-miljo.slu.se/PhD_proj_Anita_Haug.pdf
Coccidiosis is essentially a disease of livestock that are reared intensively. It is caused by the invasion and replication within the intestine by microscopic one-celled protozoan parasites. A mild coccidiosis infection, kept under control, is not very harmful, and is actually necessary for creating immunity in the flock. A severe attack of coccidiosis can cause weight losses, morbidity and mortality.
Penny